cutely accurate description of why theblacks in Detroit may have reacted the way they did in 1967.From the time that slavery was abolished in the 1800’s, blacksexperienced, over a long period of time, a steady increase in value expectations.At the same time, their value capabilities remained much the same into the1960’s. The result was what is know as aspirational deprivation. Aspirationaldeprivations is characterized by an increase in men’s value expectationswithout a concomitant change in value position or potential. Those whoexperience aspirational RD do not anticipate or experience significant loss ofwhat they have; they are angered because they feel the have no means forattaining new or intensified expectations (Gurr, Why Men Rebel, p. 50). As wehave now read, this aspirational deprivation contributed heavily to the Detroitriots in 1967.Part of the problem with blacks during this time could also be partlyexplained by the demonstration effect which Blankston defines as the processin which people on a lower standard of living become acquainted with thebenefits of a higher standard and as a consequence, come to desire the demandsof the higher level. In the 60’s, the onset of communications, specificallytelevision, brought to the forefront the standard of living being realized by avast number of Americans, predominately white Americans. This could havecontributed to the demonstration effect where by blacks saw what standard ofliving others were achieving which brought about frustration on their part. Determinants of the Scope of RDThe intensity of RD is a psychocultural variable; the basic unit ofanalysis is the individual and the intensity of consequent anger in a collectivityis the aggregate anger felt by its members. The scope of RD is a societalvariable; the unit of analysis is the collectivity and the operational question isthe proportion of its members who share specified levels of discontent, aquestion ...
